RE Log Spring 2019

SPRING 2019 Ransom Everglades LOG 67 Fourteen former board chairs, three former heads of school, faculty emeriti and hundreds of Dan Leslie Bowden devotees, family, friends and colleagues turned out to honor the legendary teacher of English at a Celebration of Life Oct. 15 at the Lewis Family Auditorium. Bowden, who died Sept. 14 at 89 after 63 years at Ransom Everglades, was remembered with tears, laughter, poetry, music and many stories. “No one loved the school more than Dan Leslie Bowden, and today we will return some of that love,” Head of School Penny Townsend said. “He was the very fabric of the school.” Three former Bowden students, current board chair Andy L. Ansin ’81 , trustee Jeffrey Miller ’79 and Joseph Annis ’60 , offered personal reflections that highlighted Bowden’s huge heart for his students and endearing eccentricities. Former Heads of School Ellen Moceri, Jim Young and Judy Chamberlain returned for the event. Former board chairs Blanche August, Peter Bermont, Carlos de la Cruz, Jr., Barbara Havenick, William Holly ’86 , Harold Kendall, Dick Lampen, Jeff Roberts, Ghislain Gouraige, Rose Ellen Greene, Eric Mendelson, Rudy Prio Touzet ’76 and Bob Stone attended. Catherine “Kitty” Proenza read Ecclasiastes 3:1- 8 and was joined by fellow Faculty Emeriti: Buzzie Borona-Polson, Jane Dolkart, Jerry Exum, Susan Felz, Ann Goesel, George Kasyan, Barbara Lester, Kenia Rebozo, Mike Stokes and Marian Turk. Bowden’s grandnephew Thomas Bowden was there with Patricia Bowden, Cindy Bowden Nichols and Troy Mann. “Mr. Bowden, you have thousands of children,” Annis said. “They are the students you taught, that you raised to a higher standard. We are here today because of you ... We are your children.” To honor Mr. Bowden’s memory, con- sider making a gift to the Dan Leslie Bowden Endowment in the Humanities at www.ransomeverglades.org/DLBEH Hundreds turn out to celebrate the life of Dan Leslie Bowden Photo gallery: https://ransomevergladesschool.smugmug.com/2018-19/Dan-Leslie-Bowden-Celebration-of-Life/